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Unstable Building to report a building that has a defective or cracked exterior façade

Per Local Law 11/98, the City requires owners of buildings six (6) stories or higher to have their buildings' exterior walls and appurtenances, such as balconies, inspected every five (5) years by a New York State licensed architect or engineer.

Façade report and maintenance/repair deadlines are divided into cycles. Cycle 9 began February 21, 2020, and runs through February 20, 2025.

All façade compliance filings must be submitted online in DOB NOW: Safety.

Learn about building façade inspections.

File a job through DOB NOW.

You can get additional information by phone.

Call 311 for assistance.

Licensed architects and engineers must report hazardous defects on a building's exterior walls immediately by submitting a Notification of UNSAFE Facade, FISP-3, in DOB NOW: Safety.

The building owner should immediately begin to repair or stabilize the exterior walls.

The notification is not a violation or a ticket. An inspector will verify the hazardous conditions and determine if enough safeguards have been provided and if repairs are in progress. If no safeguards are in place, the inspector can issue a Department of Buildings violation.

Building Facade Inspection

Notification of an Unsafe Condition